Temporary binder.



C. D.'TRU SSELL.

TEMPORARY BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I0. 1914.

Patented June 1, 1915.

v NVENTOR WITNESSES;

as INC u -r umcvou n c of this t CLARENCE D. TRUSSELL, OF POUGl-IKEELPSIE, NEW YORK TEMPORARY BINDER;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1915.

Application filed June 10, 1914. Sen'al No. 844,147.

T0 61 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE D. TnUssnLL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Temporary Binders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to binders or files for loose leaves and specifically to such binders of the ring type. In such binders prongs. or half-rings are so mounted as to open to permit the insertion or removal of loose sheets, and to close together to form complete rings for confining such sheets.

The half rings, otherwise called prongs are.

leaves and readily closed for the retentionof the leaves.

A further. object of mv invention is to provide an improved bearing contact between the outer edges of the prong carrying plates and the spring plate and also to provide an improved bearing for the meeting edges of the said prong carrying plates.

A further object of my invention is to provide prongs which are integral with the ron carr in lates and of maximum ca- P e I pacity and which are of increased strength and rigiditv. I

A further 0b ect of the invention is to provide improved means for limiting the opening movement'of the plates which at the 7 same time maintain the plates in longitudinal alinement and prevent their being displaced relatively to one another. y

The invention also provides an improved method of forming the prongs in the prong carrying plates.

A desirable form in which my invention may be embodied is illustrated in the acco1npanymg drawings \vhere1n:

Figure 1 is a plan view partl in sectipn of a pair ofprong carrying plates. Fig. 2 1s a similar view of the assembled structure. Fig. 3 is an end view with the cover plate in section. Fig. 4 is an end view partly in section illustrating the prongs in open position. F 1g: 5 1s a cross-section on the'line 5-5,

Fig. 2. Fig. is a diagrammatic detailed view illustrating the formation of the prongs. Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the cover plate wherev it receives the prongs.

' Fig. 8 is an end view of a modified bearing contact between the prong plates and the spring plate, and Fig. 9 is a plan view there of illustrating part of an assembled structure.

My invention is applied to a temporary binder having a back or supporting plate A which is illustrated as a spring plate and oppositely disposed right and left hand.

prong carrying plates B, G which are mounted within the longitudinal flanges a of the spring plate A. I have illustrated a cover plate D in connection with my invention but the same is employed merely for the purpose of adding to the appearance of the binder and is not essential to the operation thereof. This cover plate is not used as a stop to limit the opening movement of the hooks,'other means hereinafter described be ing employed for this purpose' The prong carrying plates B, C are each formed of one piece of sheet metal. Sensitive bearing contacts are provided between the said prong carrying plates and the spring plates, and these bearing contacts are preferably formed at a plurality of separated points andby a projecting portion on one of the said parts which has a relatively narrow engaging face and is received in a groove on the other part. As illustrated thesaid bearing contact is formed by the projections b, 0 upon the prong carrying plates and these are'conveniently arranged near the end portions thereof as illustrated. I desire to provide a free acting or sensitive bearing for the prong carrying plates upon the spring plate and for thispurpose the projections b, 0 may be reduced in-thickness toward their outer edges providing substantially knife edge bearings. The said bearings are engaged against theinner side of the flanges a on the spring plates, which as one of the bearingmembers and causing them to engage against the back edges of the prong plates, where they might be held in place by' entering a groove orchannel 7) formed in said prong plates at convenient points. In each case it will be seen a sensitive bearing is *formed by an edge of narrow width which" is held in place by a groove or channel in "the opposite bearing member. The bearings for the inner or meeting edges of the prong carrying plates include a plurality of separated contacts which preferably are formed s illustrated upon projections 6 0 upon one of the said edges. I have illustrated one such projection upon one plate and one upon the other but this arrangement or the numberof such contacts is not essential. To make the said bearings Z2, 0 more sensitive they are preferably slightly. reduced at their outer edges which are rounded as illustrated. The edges of the projections 6 c substantially provide sensitive bearings which engage against the flat surface of the other prong carrying plate, and whichare preferably somewhat rounded at their outer edges to provide a reduced and free acting bearing andalso one which is not apt to wear down rapidly nor wear a groove in the opposite plate.

The prongs b 0 are solid and are formed integral with the prong carrying plates and the whole structure is preferably made of .sheet metal. I prefer to make the prongs thicker than the sheet of metal from which they are formed and also thicker than the prong carrying plates. The said prongs as originally formed are of substantially the dimensions illustrated in full lines in Fig. 6. They might well be used in this form but I prefer the oval form illustrated in dotted lines in said figure. The prongs are brought to this oval shape a'swaging operation by. which their width" is decreased and their thickness is inci eased and the corners are rounded. The prongs may be curved lo'Ilgitudinally either before or after such swaging. It willbe seen that I am enabled by the 'foregoing method to provide :1 prong carrying plate, which is thinner than the prongs but which however is of sufficient thickness and strength and/which has the requisite strength in the prongs to give the proper amount of rigidity thereto. The substantial oval form in which the prongs are produced by reason of the fact that the prong is solid'produces a prong of great strength and one which has the maximum carryingca'pacity by reason of the fact that the interior space between the prongs is-of increased size. This is an important consideration in devices of this character wherein the metal parts are frequently very small and it is important to so dispose them that they shall-be strong, compact, light, and with a large carrying capacity. There is a limit to the thickness of metal which can be employed for the manufacture of the prong carrying plates. I have found in practice that in a small sized binder a metal of .041 inch in thickness-is sufficient in strength and presents the necessary compactness and that with this thickness of metal the prongs by the swaging process are increased in thickness to about .070. The employment of a metal substantially thicker than this would present a device so clumsy as to be almost unsalable. The method employed by me has the advantage therefpre not only of thickening the width of thq prongs and increasing their thickness whereby their strength is increased but of rounding their edges and producing a prong which has a smooth and even surface in cross-section. and which in addition to other advantages affords less likelihood of tearing the paper.

By forming the prongs with their point of'attachment tothe prong plates at or near the outer orrear edges ofthe plates I am enabled to obtain the desired increased size in the prongs and at the same time their projection outward from the plates is at the minimum. The prongs thereby become continuations ,of the plates with a consequent saving of space and the resultant structure presents a maximum capacity and strength and simplicity with the minimum of. material and complication.

I have also provided improved means for holding the meeting edges in the proper position relative to one another and the said means consist of the lugs b 0 c. The said lugs are stamped out of the sheet from which the prong carrying plates are made and are integral therewith and project downwardly and outwardly so that each lug passes under the body of the opposite prong plate. It will be observed that a side of each of the lugs fits closely to one side of its opposite lug. .I prefer the arrangement as shown whereby one lug b is between two lugs 0 a and fits snugly thereto but this particular numberof lugs or this precise arrangement may be varied. I have illustrated two sets of lugs of three each.' It will be observed that these lugs provide stops for limiting the opening movement of the plates as illustrated in Fig. 4 thereby relieving the cover plate C from this duty and enabling it to serve a purely ornamental function. It will further be seen that by reason of the close fit between the sides of the lugs the prong carrying plates are preserved in relative longitudinal alinement to one another whether opened or closed and further that the said lugs hold the edges of the plates at the same level with reference to one another :pd thereby preservethem in relative posi- IOII.

The cover plate D when employed by me is provided with slots cl for receiving the prongs b 0 and with depending end flanges d which cover the ends of the structure.

The importance of the bearings provided by me between the prong carrying plates and the spring plates and between the meeting edges of the respective prong carrying plates 1s due to the fact that in temporary binders of this charsicter the moiien'ipnt of t e pron carr 'ing p a es is very s ig t particularly on a imall sized binder and it will beseen that the improved construction pro.- vided by me gives a very free action.

The bearings b, a between the prong carrying plates and the spring plate may be located opposite each of the bearings 6 0 between the meeting ed es of. the prong carrying plates as shown, :1 thou h this relative arrangement is not essential and may be changed without interfering with the proper functioning of the parts.

The construction in which I have, illustrated my invention to be embodied is the best now known to me but I do not desire to be limited thereto in every particular as numerous modifications may be made therein, for instance the separated bearings between the prong carrying plates and the spring late require a projection on one or other 0 the said parts and I have only illustrated it as being formed upon one although it might-be on the other part. Also, the bearings between the meeting edges of the prong carrying plates may be otherwise constructed than asillustra ted by me and the sameis true of the lugs. Furthermore, in the construction illustrated, the back plate has two functions, to wit, that of a supporting plate and that of a spring plate.

Constructions are in use wherein the spring function is taken away from the back plate and provided by other means, and my invention is applicable to such constructions. These ,and other modifications within the limits of the appended claims are ;within the scope of my mvention, What Iclaim is:-

1. In a tem orary binder, a bask plate, a pair of oppositely disposed prong carrying plates mounted thereon and extending substantially the length thereof, a plurality of prongs or half rings carried by each of said .prong carrying plates and attached thereto at or near the rear edges of said plates, each of saidprongs being solid and of substantially oval form in cross section.

2. In a temporary binder, a pair of prong carrying plates having their inner edges ad-.

jacent one another and solid prongs formed integral with each of said plates but of greater thickness, and substantially oval in cross section, and each of said prongs'attached to its respective plate at or near the .rear edge thereof.v

3. In a temporary binder, a pair of sheet metal prong carrying plates and solid prongs formed integral with each of said plates but of greater thickness and substantially oval in cross section, and each of said prongs attached to its respective plate at or near the rear edge thereof. I 4. In a temporary binder, a spring plate and oppositely disposed prong carrying plates, each of said prong carrying plates extending substantially the length of said spring plate and having a plurality of separated bearing contacts with paid spring plate. I

5. In a temporary binder, a spring plate and oppositely disposed prong carrying plates, eachof said prohg carrying plates having a plurality of separated bearing con- I tacts with said spring plate and said prong carrying plates being reduced in thickness at said contacts.

6. In a temporary binder, a spring plate and oppositely disposed prong carrying plates, each of said prong carrying plates having a plurality of separated projections adapted to contact with said spring plates.

7. Ina temporary binder, a spring plate and oppositely ,disposed prong; carrying plates, each of said prong carrying plates having a plurality of separated projections adapted to contact with said spring plate and said prong carrying plates being reduced in thickness at said-contacts.

8. In a temporary binder, a-spring plate and oppositely disposed prong carrying plates, and projections 0n the inner edges thereof, each projection adapted to contact with. the opposite plate and providing a plurality of bearing contacts between the meeting edges of said plates, one of said meeting edges being reduced in thickness.

9:111 a temporary binder, a spring plate and oppositely disposed prong carrying plates, and projections on the inner edge of one of the same, each projection being reduced in thickness at its end and adapted to contact with the oppositerpplate and-providing a plurality of bearing'places between the 1% meeting edges of said plates.

10. In a temporary'bintler, a spring plate and oppositely disposed prong carrying plates, each of said prong carrying plates having a plurality of bearing contacts with said spring plates andiprojections on the inner edge of one of said prong carrying plates prov ding a plurality of bearing places at the meeting edges of the plates,the bearingcontact of said prong carrying plates on said spring plate being adjacent the respective bearing places between the meeting edges of said plates.

' 11. In a temporary binder, a spring plate and oppositely disposed prong carrying plates, each of said prong carrying plates having a plurality of projections at its outer edge adapted to engage said spring plate and one of the said prong carrying plates having correspondingly placed projections on its inner edge, all said projections being reduced in size at their contacting surfaces and providingseparated bearings between the prong carrying plates and the spring plate and between the meeting edges of the prong carrying plates.

12. In a temporary binder, a spring plate,

.- oppositely disposed prong carrying plates and integral lugs depending from the meetings edges of said prong carrying plates and adapted to extend under the opposite plate, there being at least three of said lugs on the two said plates, part on each plate, and each lug adapted to fit snugly to a lug on the opposite plate and said lugs adapted to provide a stop. for the opening movement of said plates, to hold them in longitudinal alinement when opened or closed and to. hold them in position relative to one another.

13. In a temporary binder, a spring plate, oppositely disposed prong carrying plates and integral lugs depending from the meet ing edges of said prong carrying plates and each adapted to extend mder the opposite plate, the said lugs being disposed in series ofthree,'tWo on one plate and one on the other, the single lug adapted to fit snugl between the pair and said lugs adapted to provide a stop for the opening movement of said plates, to hold them in longitudinal alinement When opened or closed and to hold them in position relative to one another.

. l4. A method of constructing prong carrying plates and prongs integral therewith ,WhlCll consists in stamping the said parts from sheet metal, in curving the said prongs and in swaging the edges thereof whereby the-thickness of the same is increased and the said edges are rounded and the prong is given a substantially oval form in cross section.

15, In a temporary binder, a prong carrying plate and a solid prong formed integral therewith and of substantially oval form in cross section.

1-6. In a temporary binder, a member comprising a spring plate and 'a second member comprising oppositely disposed prong plates adapted to be mounted in said spring plate and bearing contacts between said members comprising a relatively narrow edge on one of said members adapted to enter a groove inthfother member and provide a sensitive or'free bearing. i

17.11111. temporary binder, a membef 'comprising spring plate and a second member comprising oppositely disposed prong plates adapted to be mounted in said spring plate, bearing contacts between said members comprising a relatively narrow edge on one of said members adapted to enter a groove in the other member and provide a sensitive or free bearing, and prongs integral withsaid prong plates. p

' 18. In a temporary binder, a mmbercomprising a spring plate and a second member comprising oppositely disposed prong plat-es adapted to be'mounted in said spring plate, bearing contacts between Said members comprising a relatively narrow edge on one of said members adapted to enter a groove in the other member and provide a sensitive or free bearing, and solid prongs integral with said prong plates.

19. 'In a temporary binder, a member comprising a spring plate and a second member comprising oppositely disposed prong plates adapted to be mounted in said spring plate, bearing contacts between said members comprising a relatively narrow edge on one of said members adapted to enter a groove in the other member and provide a sensitive or free bearing, and prongs on said prong plates of substantially oval shape in cross section.

20. In a temporary binder, a member comprising a back plate and a second member comprising oppositely disposed prong carrying plates carried thereby, the said members having spring action relativelto one another, and the inner edges of said prong carrying plates adapted to meet and one of said edges being reduced in thickness and adapted to engage against the straight face of the other edge, whereby a free acting bearingbetween said plates is provided.

21. In a temporary binder, a spring plate and oppositely disposed prong carrying plates, each of said prong carrying plates extending substantially the lengtli of said spring plate and having a plurality of separated bearing contacts with said spring plates, each bearing contact having a relatively narrow width.

22. In a temporary binder, a back plate, a pair of oppositely disposed prongcarrying plates carried by said back plate, the said back plate and prong plates having spring -action relative to one another-whereby the a pair of oppositely disposed prong carrying plates carried by said back plate, the said back plate and prong plates having spring action relative to one another whereby the prong plates are spring pressed to open or closed position, sheet holding prongs carried by eaph of said plates, each of said prongs curved in the direction of its length, and formed integral with its plate, but of greater thickness, and being solid throughout its length,and the surface of the sheet holding portion of each of said prongs being even and rounded in cross section whereby the sheets are protected from injury andthe movement of the sheets is facilitated.

24. In a temporary binder, a back plate and oppositely disposed prong carrying plates, each of said prong carrying plates extending substantially the length of said back plate and having a plurality of separated bearing contacts with said back plate. 25. In a temporary binder, a back plate and oppositely disposed prong carrying plates, each-of said prong carrying plates having a plurality of separated bearing contacts with said back plate, and said prong carrying plates being reduced. in thickness at said contacts.

26. In a temporary binder, a back plate, a pair of oppositely disposed prong carrying plates carried by said back plate, the said 7 with its plate and being solid throughout its length, and the surface of-the sheet holding portion of each of said prongs being even and rounded in cross section, whereby the sheets are protected from injury and the movement of the sheets is facilitated.

27. In a temporary binder, a backplate,

a pair of oppositely disposed prong-carry ing plates, mounted thereon and extending substantially the length therepf, and a plurality of prongs or half rings formed integral with each of said prong carrying plates and attached thereto at or near the rear edges of said plates, each of said prongs beingsolid and of greater thickness than attached plate.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLARENCE n. 'rnnssnrin.

Witnesses:

Lonrrr E. Os'rnnrronn'r, 'liseermia Nnnson,

(topics of this patent may be obtained for five any. each, by aedressinigr the emmisaiener cl Fate-ate,

Waehingtes, id. it. 

